During the Civil War and its aftermath, sons of Gorham serving in Maine regiments and other units were killed, mortally wounded, wounded and later died, died of disease, or died in prison at places including Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Winchester, Fort Wagner, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Port Hudson, Antietam, Gaines' Mills, the Wilderness, and Libby Prison, as well as at hospitals and home towns from Washington and Alexandria to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Savannah, and Gorham. The dead included captains, lieutenants, sergeants, corporals, privates, and the Reverend John R. Adams, whose death in 1866 was attributed to disease resulting from devoted service as chaplain of the 5th Maine and 121st New York regiments. The memorial was erected in 1866 by Hon. Toppan Robie to honor the sons of Gorham who sacrificed their lives for their country in the great rebellion of 1861, and the gate of the enclosure was presented by Col. F. Robie in 1872.